Your editorial failed to mention the most important responsibility facing new Department of Corrections head Rick Raemisch — to prepare the 97 percent of Colorado prisoners who will eventually be released to be contributors to society.

In particular, Raemisch must continue former prison chief Tom Clements’ work aimed at providing intensive mental health care to seriously mentally ill prisoners, rather than simply warehousing those prisoners in long-term solitary confinement, or administrative segregation.

Field Director Charles White of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People speaks at a podium outside the U.S. Supreme Court building on June 25 in Washington, D.C. The court ruled that Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act, which aimed at protecting minority voters, is unconstitutional. (Win McNamee, Getty Images)

Today I am ashamed of my country. I am ashamed that four white men and — hold your breath — one black man undid one of the greatest acts of Congress in our history: the Voting Rights Act of 1965. These five men fail to understand history and the blood of those who have gone before who died for justice and fairness in a society that even today is increasingly deaf to the voices of the poor, the unemployed and the disenfranchised.

Perhaps these five men and those who support their actions never heard of Emmett Till or Medgar Evers. Perhaps they did not see the long lines of black men and women waiting to vote last November as restrictive voting hour laws and phony voter fraud ID laws made voting harder for those with the least power. Or could it be that declaring victory over the past is a way to erase history and blind oneself from the truth?

In a society less upwardly mobile than in 1965 when the Voting Rights Act became law, it is shocking that corporatists like U.S. Supreme Court Justices Antonin Scalia, John Roberts and Samuel Alito continue their assault on the open society necessary for democracy. It will take a new civil rights movement to fashion fairness and access and undo the damage these men have brought us.

Bill J. Fyfe, Denver

This letter was published in the June 27 edition.

Funny how changing times justify boys in girls’ restrooms, gay marriage (which I support), amnesty for illegals, and so many other liberal causes, but questioning an outmoded voting law or the need for race-based preferences is called an outrage. Laws protecting minorities were necessary and proper, once. They are no longer necessary or proper. All the bleating about continued racism in America is knee-jerk pap, which insults pioneers of all races who worked so hard and sacrificed so much to make America one of the least racist nations on the planet. Let us celebrate our progress, not continue to denigrate our past and hold ourselves to standards which simply no longer apply. And, no, we’re not perfect; but the Supreme Court decision on the Voting Rights Act has nothing to do with social mores, just whether we discriminate in voting. And, please, stop carping on Republicans: Democrats are using this antiquated law for political, not social reasons. Let’s move on, shall we?

Anthony T. Accetta, Denver

This letter was published in the June 27 edition.

With Tuesday’s 5-4 Supreme Court decision, which essentially overturned Section 4 of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, red-state Republicans, having heretofore focused their attention on the passage of endless measures to repeal or obstruct implementation of the Affordable Care Act, may now demonstrate that they are also capable of creating a vast array of innovative voter suppression measures, and thereby shed their reputation of being merely “one-trick elephants.”

Frank Tapy, Denver

This letter was published in the June 27 edition.

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MillerCoors is to be commended for the foresight to invest both in the equipment and the process change required to eliminate all waste from the Golden brewery. A $1 million investment that nets $1 million each year while simultaneously eliminating landfill waste is great for their business and all of Colorado. Combine that with efforts of other brewers such as New Belgium’s 100 percent wind-generated power source and we have some Colorado-grown businesses that do right while doing well. I’ll toast to that.

Sean Essex, Denver

This letter was published in the June 27 edition.

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What is happening to Paula Deen is similar to what happened in the 1950s with McCarthyism.

Everyone, especially white people, are frightened that they may be lynched by the public if they say or even think of anything that is remotely racist. Yes, Deen used racial slurs during her life. Let the first person who hasn’t used a racist or a negative word about any group of people in their lifetime cast the first stone.

Racism is wrong and Deen was wrong to say what she said, but she has done the right thing and has apologized (numerous times). There is no reason to continue to crucify her.

Joseph McCarthy had everyone paranoid and scared that they may be the next person accused of being a communist. Something very similar is happening to our nation in these times.

David Faria, Castle Rock

This letter was published in the June 27 edition.

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Letter-writer Walt Bonora slams columnist Charles Krauthammer’s comments as “spiteful, venomous attacks on Democrats.” How about addressing the facts? Everything Krauthammer so meticulously spells out has facts backing it up. I guess that doesn’t count for anything in Bonora’s eyes. Perhaps he should take another look at the facts and try to follow the reasoning.

Kay Robbins, Denver

This letter was published in the June 27 edition.

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Guidelines: The Post welcomes letters up to 150 words on topics of general interest. Letters must include full name, home address, day and evening phone numbers, and may be edited for length, grammar and accuracy.

To reach the Denver Post editorial page by phone: 303-954-1331

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